Devices, systems, and methods for multi-user screen sharing

ABSTRACT

The present technology is generally directed to multi-user screen sharing. In some embodiments, a method for media content screen sharing includes receiving a first media content item selection from a first user and receiving a second media content item selection from a second user. The method can further include generating a multi-content video signal, wherein the multi-content video signal includes the selected first media content item and the selected second media content item. The multi-content video signal can be displayed to both the first user and the second user. The method can include causing a first electronic device of the first user to display a first portion of the multi-content video signal that corresponds to the selected first media content item, and causing a second electronic device of the second user to display a second portion of the multi-content video signal that corresponds to the selected second media content item.

BACKGROUND

Screen sharing, such as via split-screen or picture-in-picture video,can allow multiple users to view multiple video feeds using a singledisplay device. However, conventional screen sharing techniques oftendivide the display device's screen into zones or sub-areas smaller thanthe size of the single display device, relegating individual video feedsto these various zones and displaying these individual video feeds toeveryone viewing the display device. This can be distracting when, forexample, multiple viewers each want to watch their respective contentusing the single display device and are uninterested in viewing theother viewer's content.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system for presenting or displaying mediacontent items in accordance with embodiments of the present technology.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the system of FIG. 1 displayingfirst and second media content items to first and second users,respectively, in accordance with embodiments of the present technology.

FIGS. 3A-3C illustrate the system of FIG. 1 at first, second, and thirdtimes, respectively, in accordance with embodiments of the presenttechnology.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram showing a representative method of operation ofa processor-based system for displaying media contents items, inaccordance with embodiments of the present technology.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an overview of devices on whichat least some embodiments of the present technology can operate.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an overview of an environment inwhich at least some embodiment of the present technology can operate.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating components which can be used in asystem employing at least some embodiments of the present technology.

The headings provided herein are for convenience only and do notnecessarily affect the scope of the embodiments. Further, the drawingshave not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions ofsome of the elements in the figures may be expanded or reduced to helpimprove the understanding of the embodiments. Moreover, while thedisclosed technology is amenable to various modifications andalternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way ofexample in the drawings and are described in detail below. Theintention, however, is not to unnecessarily limit the embodimentsdescribed. On the contrary, the embodiments are intended to cover allsuitable modifications, combinations, equivalents, and alternativesfalling within the scope of this disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present technology is generally directed to devices, systems, andmethods for multi-user screen sharing. In some embodiments, a multi-userscreen sharing system includes a set-top box, a television, and at leasttwo electronic devices. Each of the electronic devices can be associatedwith a user. For example, a first user can have a first electronicdevice and a second user can have a second electronic device. Each ofthe users can select respective media content items (e.g., videos, videofeeds, movies, television shows, television broadcasts, and the like)for viewing. For example, the first user can select a first mediacontent item and the second user can select a second media content item.Each of the users' selections can be received by the set-top box. Theset-top box can generate a multi-content video signal including thefirst media content item and the second media content item, and cancause the television to display the multi-content video signal to boththe first and second users. In some embodiments, the set-top box cangenerate the multi-content video signal by interleaving video framesfrom the first and second media content items, such that the first andsecond media content items are displayed on the television in atime-division multiplexed format. For example, the odd-numbered framesof the multi-content video signal can correspond to the firstmulti-content video signal and the even-numbered frames of themulti-content video signal can correspond to the second multi-contentvideo signal. Accordingly, in this example, the framerate of themulti-content video signal will be greater than (e.g., double) the framerates of the respective first and second media content items. Forexample, if the first and second media content items each have a 30 Hzframe rate, the multi-content video signal can have a 60 Hz frame rate.

While the television is displaying the multi-content video signal, theusers can use their respective electronic devices to selectively viewtheir respective media content item selections. For example, each user'srespective electronic device can capture light (e.g., the displayedmulti-content video signal) from the television and de-interleave thecaptured light to display the user's selected media content item. Insome embodiments, the set-top box can send sync signals to each of theuser's devices to cause each device to display the portion of themulti-content video signal that corresponds to the user's selected mediacontent item. The sync signals can be associated with the frame rate ofeach user's selected media content item. For example, for a 60 Hzmulti-content video signal including two 30 Hz media content items, theset-top box can send sync signals to each user's electronic device tocause/instruct each user's electronic device to display the 30 Hzportion (e.g., the odd-numbered or even-numbered frames) of the 60 Hzmulti-content video signal that correspond to each user's selected mediacontent item. Accordingly, the selected media content items can beinterleaved/multiplexed when displayed by the television andde-interleaved/de-multiplexed on the user's electronic devices. Theelectronic devices can include, for example, smartphones, and the userscan view their respective media content item selections via theirsmartphone's cameras. Additionally, or alternatively, the electronicdevices can include smart glasses, AR devices, VR devices, and the like.

Various embodiments of the systems and methods introduced above will nowbe described in further detail. The following description providesspecific details for a thorough understanding and enabling descriptionof at least these embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art willunderstand, however, that the techniques and technology discussed hereinmay be practiced without many of these details. Likewise, one skilled inthe relevant art will also understand that the technology can includemany other features not described in detail herein. Additionally, somewell-known structures and/or functions associated with the presenttechnology may not be shown or described in detail below so as to avoidunnecessarily obscuring the relevant description.

The terminology used below is to be interpreted in its broadestreasonable manner, even though it is being used in conjunction with adetailed description of some specific examples of the embodiments.Indeed, some terms may even be emphasized below; however, anyterminology intended to be interpreted in any restricted manner will beovertly and specifically defined as such in this section.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system 100 for presenting or displayingmedia content items in accordance with embodiments of the presenttechnology. The system 100 can include a television 102 or other displaydevice, a set-top box (STB) 104, and a remote control 105. The system100 can also include or be in communication with one or more mediacontent sources 103. The media content sources 103 can include a server110, a database 112, and/or optionally a cloud environment 106.Individual ones of the media content sources 103 can store or otherwiseinclude one or more media content items, and/or can be configured totransmit individual ones of the media content items to the television102 and/or the STB 104. Optionally, the system 100 and/or the mediacontent sources 103 can include an electronic device 108. The electronicdevice 108 can be a desktop computer or a mobile device, such as acellular telephone, a tablet computer, a smartwatch, smart glasses, a VRheadset, or any other mobile device.

In some examples, the STB 104 can be in communication with asatellite-based television distribution system via a satellite dish 122.Satellite-based television distribution systems often include one ormore satellites 120 and satellite transmission equipment (not shown).Although the system 100 is described with respect to a satellite-baseddistribution system, cable, IP-based, wireless, and broadcast focusedsystems are also possible. While only one satellite dish 122, STB 104,and television 102 (collectively referred to as “user equipment”) areillustrated, it should be understood that multiple (e.g., tens,thousands, millions of) instances and types of user equipment mayreceive data and television signals from satellite-based televisiondistribution systems (e.g., satellite 120).

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the system 100 displaying firstand second media content items 232 a, 232 b to first and second users224 a, 224 b, respectively, in accordance with embodiments of thepresent technology. One or more of the media content sources 103 cancommunicate one or more media content items (e.g., videos, video feeds,movies, television shows, television broadcasts, and the like) to theSTB 104 and television 102 (for example, via the satellite-basedtelevision distribution system, including the satellite dish 122 andsatellite 120 of FIG. 1 ). The television 102 can then display the oneor more media content items, for example, to the users 224 a, 224 b.Although in the illustrated embodiment the system 100 has two users 224a, 224 b, in other embodiments the system 100 can have more users, suchas at least four, six, any number therebetween, and/or any othersuitable number of users. Additionally, or alternatively, the system 100can have up to 12, 14, 16, or up to any other suitable number of users.

The television 102 is configured to display a multiplexed ormulti-content video signal 230. The multi-content video signal 230 caninclude a plurality of individual media content items 232 a-b. In theillustrated embodiment, the multi-content video signal 230 includes thefirst media content item 232 a and the second media content item 232 b(shown using correspondingly-numbered arrows in FIG. 2 ), which can bereferred to collectively as “media content items 232.” In otherembodiments, the multi-content video signal 230 can include more thantwo media content items, such as at least three, four, five, or anyother suitable number of media content items. Additionally, oralternatively, the multi-content video signal 230 can include up to 12,14, 16, or any other suitable number of media content items. In theseand other embodiments, the number of media content items within themulti-content video signal can be the same as or different than thenumber of users. In at least some embodiments, for example, each usercan watch a respective media content item different from the mediacontent items watched by other users. In other embodiments, one or moreusers can watch the same media content item. Additionally, oralternatively, the number of media content items included in themulti-content video signal 230 can be based at least partially on theframe rate of the display device and/or the frame rates of theindividual media content items. For example, a display device with a 60Hz frame rate could display a 60 Hz multi-content video signal includingtwo 30 Hz media content items, a display device with a 120 Hz frame ratecould display a 120 Hz multi-content video signal including four 30 Hzmedia content items and/or a 120 Hz multi-content video signal includingtwo 60 Hz media content items, etc.

The individual media content items 232 can be interleaved, multiplexed(e.g., time-division multiplexed), or otherwise combined into themulti-content video signal 230 by the television 102, by the STB 104, byone or more of the media content sources 103, and/or by any othersuitable element and/or component of the system 100. In someembodiments, the individual media content items 232 can be opticallymultiplexed to form the multi-content video signal, for example, byinserting one or more frames from the first media content item 232 abetween one or more frames from the second media content item 232 b.Accordingly, in at least some embodiments, the odd-numbered frames(e.g., frames 1, 3, 5, 7, etc.) of the multi-content video signal 230correspond to the first media content item 232 a and the even-numberedframes (e.g., frames 2, 4, 6, 8, etc.) of the multi-content video signal230 correspond to the second media content item 232 b. This is describedin detail below with reference to FIGS. 3A-3C.

The user's devices 208 a, 208 b can each be configured to selectivelydisplay (using, e.g., the display screens of the user's devices 208 a,208 b) at least one of the media content items 232 a, 232 b from themulti-content video signal 230. In the illustrated embodiment, forexample, the first user's device 208 a is configured to display thefirst media content item 232 a to the first user 224 a and the seconduser's device 208 b is configured to display the second media contentitem 232 b to the second user 224 b. In some embodiments, one or more ofthe users 224 a, 224 b can use respective headphones 225 a, 225 b, orany other suitable sound-emitting device, in communication with theuser's devices 208 a, 208 b and/or the system 100 to hear the soundassociated with the respective media content items 232 a, 232 b.

The system 100 (e.g., the STB 104, or any other suitable element of thesystem) can transmit respective display control or sync signals 234 a,234 b to the user's devices 208 a, 208 b. In some embodiments, one ormore of the sync signals 234 a, 234 b can be transmitted wirelessly, forexample, via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity between the devices 208 a,208 b and the system 100. Additionally, or alternatively, one or more ofthe sync signals 234 a, 234 b can be transmitted optically, for example,as a visual code or indicator included in the multi-content video signal230, such as preceding one or more frames of the first and/or secondmedia content items 232 a, 232 b. In these and other embodiments, one ormore of the sync signals 234 a, 234 b can be transmitted using any othersuitable transmission method or technique. In some aspects of thepresent technology, transmitting sync signals 234 a, 234 b to the user'selectronic devices is expected to use less bandwidth than transmittingthe user's respective media content items 232 a, 232 b to the user'selectronic devices.

When received by the users' devices 208 a, 208 b, the sync signals 234a, 234 b can cause or instruct each device 208 a, 208 b to displayselect frames or portions of the multi-content video signal 230. In theillustrated embodiment, for example, the first sync signal 234 ainstructs the first device 208 a to display one or more of the frames ofthe multi-content video signal 230 that correspond to the first mediacontent item 232 a (e.g., the odd-numbered frames), and the second syncsignal 234 b instructs the second device 208 b to display one or more ofthe frames of the multi-content video signal 230 that correspond to thesecond media content item 232 b (e.g., the even-number frames). This isdescribed in detail below with reference to FIGS. 3A-3C.

The system 100 can allow multiple users to watch different content usingthe same television. For example, the first user 224 a may wish to watchthe first media content item 232 a and the second user may wish to watchthe second media content 232 b at the same time as the first user 224 awatches the first media content item 232 a. Each of the users 224 a, 224b can request to view their respective media content items 232 a, 232 b,and the system 100 can combine the first and second media content items232 a, 232 b into the multi-content video signal 230 and display themulti-content video signal 230 to both of the users 224 a, 224 b. Theusers 224 a, 224 b can view their respective media content items 232 a,232 b via the user's respective electronic devices 208 a, 208 b, forexample, via one or more cameras of the user's device's 208 a, 208 b.Each of the user's electronic devices 208 a, 208 b can be configured todisplay the respective user's media content item and block/filter out(e.g., not display) the other user's media content item. Although theuser's electronic devices 208 a, 208 b are illustrated as smartphones,it will be appreciated that, in other embodiments, the electronicdevices 208 a, 208 b can include tablets, smart glasses, AR headsets, VRheadsets, and/or any other suitable electronic devices.

FIGS. 3A-3C illustrate the system 100 at first, second, and third times301 a-c, respectively, in accordance with embodiments of the presenttechnology. The multi-content video signal 230 can be configured todisplay the constituent media content items on the television at theiroriginal, respective frame rates. For example, as described previouslyregarding FIG. 2 , the individual frames of the first and second mediacontent items 232 a, 232 b can be interleaved to create themulti-content video signal 230. Accordingly, because the multi-contentvideo signal 230 includes multiple media content items 232 a, 232 b, theframe rate of the multi-content video signal 230 will be greater than(e.g., a combination of, a multiple of, etc.) the frame rate of theindividual media content items 232 a, 232 b, and/or proportional to thenumber of individual media content items included in the multi-contentvideo signal 230. For example, in some embodiments the first and secondmedia content items 232 a, 232 b each have a frame rate of 30 Hz, andthe multi-content video signal has a frame rate of 60 Hz, twice therespective frame rates of the first and second media content items 232a, 232 b. Continuing with this example, the television 102 can displaythe multi-content video signal at 60 Hz, and the user's device 208 a,208 b can display the respective first and second media content items at30 Hz. Accordingly, the multi-content video signal can be configured topreserve the original frame rates of the individual media content items232 a, 232 b.

The sync signals 234 a, 234 b can be coordinated with the frames fromthe multi-content video signal 230 being displayed on the television 102at a given time. For example, the sync signals 234 a, 234 b can beconfigured based at least in part on the frame rate of the multi-contentvideo signal 230 and/or the frame rates of the individual media contentitems 232 a, 232 b, such that the sync signals 234 a, 234 b can causethe respective devices 208 a, 208 b to display the respective mediacontent items 232 a, 232 b. In at least some embodiments, for example,the sync signals 234 a, 234 b can cause/instruct the respective devices208 a, 208 b to either display or block presentation of the individualframes of the multi-content video signal 230 based on which mediacontent item 232 a, 232 b the device's users 224 a, 224 b (FIG. 2 ) wantto view. By instructing/causing the devices 208 a, 208 b to alternatebetween displaying and blocking individual frames from the multi-contentvideo signal 230 at a same frame rate as the respective first and secondmedia content items 232 a, 232 b, the sync signals 234 a, 234 b cancause the respective devices 208 a, 208 b to display the respectivefirst and second media content items 232 a, 232 b to the respectivefirst and second users 224 a, 224 b (FIG. 2 ). In at least someembodiments, for example, instructing/causing the first user's device208 a to block the even-numbered frames of a 60 Hz multi-content videosignal 230 including a first 30 Hz media content item 232 a and a second30 Hz media content item 232 b can cause the first user's device 208 ato display the odd-numbered frames (e.g., the first media content item232 a selection) of the 60 Hz multi-content video signal 230 at 30 Hz.Additionally, or alternatively, instructing/causing the first user'sdevice 208 b to display the odd-numbered frames of a 60 Hz multi-contentvideo signal 230 can cause the first user's device 208 a to display theodd-numbered frames of the 60 Hz multi-content video signal 230 at 30Hz. The same applies to the second user's device 208 b, but withselectively blocking the frames of the multi-content video signal 230associated with the first media content item 232 a and/or selectivelydisplaying the frames of the multi-content video signal 230 associatedwith the second media content item 232 b.

Referring to FIG. 3A, at the first time 301 a, the multi-content videosignal 230 is configured to display a first frame from the first mediacontent item 232 a on the television 102. The first sync signal 234 ainstructs/causes the first device 208 a to display the first frame fromthe first media content item 232 a to the first user 224 a (FIG. 2 ),and the second sync signal 234 b instructs/causes the second device 208b to display a blank or dark screen 336 b, or to otherwise not displaythe first frame from the first media content item 232 a shown on thetelevision 102.

Referring to FIG. 3B, at the second time 301 b (e.g., after orimmediately following the first time 301 a), the multi-content videosignal 230 is configured to display a first frame from the second mediacontent item 232 b (e.g., the second frame of the multi-content videosignal 230) on the television 102. The second sync signal 234 binstructs/causes the second device 208 b to display the first frame fromthe second media content item 232 b to the second user 224 b (FIG. 2 ),and the first sync signal 234 a instructs/causes the first device 208 ato display a blank or dark screen 336 a, or to otherwise not display thefirst frame from the second media content item 232 b shown on thetelevision 102.

Referring to FIG. 3C, at the third time 301 c (e.g., after orimmediately following the second time 301 b), the multi-content videosignal 230 is configured to display a second frame from the first mediacontent item 232 a (e.g., a third frame of the multi-content videosignal 230) on the television 102. The first sync signal 234 ainstructs/causes the first device 208 a to display the second frame fromthe first media content item 232 a to the first user 224 a (FIG. 2 ),and the second sync signal 234 b instructs/causes the second device 208b to display a blank or dark screen 336 b, or to otherwise not displaythe second frame from the first media content item 232 a shown on thetelevision 102. The time between the first time 301 a and the third time301 c can correspond to the frame rate of the first media content item232 a, and/or can be generally similar to or the same as the timebetween individual frames of the first media content item 232 a.Accordingly, by alternatingly displaying and blocking individual framesfrom the multi-content video signal 230 at a same frame rate as therespective first and second media content items 232 a, 232 b, the system100 can cause the respective devices 208 a, 208 b to display therespective first and second media content items 232 a, 232 b to therespective first and second users 224 a, 224 b (FIG. 2 ).

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram showing a representative method 400 ofoperation of a processor-based system for displaying media contentsitems, in accordance with embodiments of the present technology. Themethod 400 is illustrated as a set of blocks, steps, operations, orprocesses 401-405. All or a subset of the steps 401-405 can be executedat least in part by various components of a system, such as the system100 of FIGS. 1-3C. For example, all or a subset of the steps 401-405 canbe executed at least in part by one or more set-top boxes, televisions,media content sources, satellite-based television distribution systems,and/or electronic devices. Additionally, or alternatively, any one ormore of the steps 401-405 can be executed in accordance with thediscussion above, and/or below regarding FIGS. 5-7 . Many of the steps401-405 of the method 400 are discussed in detail below with referenceto FIGS. 1-3C for the sake of clarity and understanding. It will beappreciated, however, that the method 400 may be used with other mediacontent systems in addition to those described herein.

At step 401 a, the method 400 can include providing a first user withone or more media content items options, for example, for the firstuser's viewing. In some embodiments, one or more of the media contentitem options can be presented on the display device via a set-top boxand/or on the first user's electronic device. At step 401 b, the method400 can include providing a second user with one or more media contentitem options for viewing. Step 401 b can include at least some aspectsthat are generally similar or identical to step 402 a. The second mediacontent item selection can be presented (step 401 b) before, during,and/or after the first media content item selection is presented (step401 a).

At step 402 a, the method can include receiving a first media contentitem selection from the first user. In some embodiments, the first mediacontent item selection can be received from a remote control associatedwith the set-top box. At step 402 b, the method 400 can includereceiving a second media content item selection from the second user.Step 402 b can include at least some aspects that are generally similaror identical to step 402 a. The second media content item selection canbe received (step 402 b) before, during, and/or after the first mediacontent item selection is received (step 402 a).

At step 403, the method 400 includes generating a multi-content videosignal. The multi-content video signal can be generated based at leastpartially on the first media content item selection (step 402 a) and thesecond media content item selection (step 402 b). In some embodiments,generating the multi-content video signal can include multiplexing oneor more frames of the first media content item (step 402 a) with one ormore frames of the second media content item (step 402 b). In someembodiments, the multi-content video signal can be generated at leastpartially by a set-top box and/or a television.

At step 404, the method 400 can include displaying the multi-contentvideo signal. Displaying the multi-content video signal can includedisplaying the multi-content video signal using a single display device,such as a single television. Additionally, or alternatively, displayingthe multi-content video signal can include displaying the multi-contentvideo signal to the first and second users. In these and otherembodiments, displaying the multi-content video signal can includealternatingly and/or successively displaying one or more frames from thefirst and second media content items. In at least some embodiments, thefirst user and/or the second user can independently interact with therespective first and second media content items, for example, to pause,rewind, fast forward, and the like.

At step 405, the method 400 can include transmitting sync signals to theusers' devices. Transmitting the sync signals can include transmitting afirst sync signal to the first user's device and transmitting a secondsync signal to the second user's device. Each of the sync signals can beconfigured to instruct/cause the associated users' device to display therespective user's media content item selection (step 402 a, 402 b). Forexample, the first sync signal sent to the first user's device caninstruct/cause the first user's device to display the first mediacontent item, and the second sync signal sent to the second user'sdevice can instruct/cause the second user's device to display the secondmedia content item. Accordingly, in some embodiments, transmitting thesync signals can include causing the users' devices to display the mediacontent item selections (steps 401 a, 401 b).

Suitable System

The techniques disclosed herein can be embodied as special-purposehardware (e.g., circuitry), as programmable circuitry appropriatelyprogrammed with software and/or firmware, or as a combination ofspecial-purpose and programmable circuitry. Hence, embodiments mayinclude a machine-readable medium having stored thereon instructionswhich may be used to cause a computer, a microprocessor, processor,and/or microcontroller (or other electronic devices) to perform aprocess. The machine-readable medium may include, but is not limited to,optical disks, compact disc read-only memories (CD-ROMs),magneto-optical disks, ROMs, random access memories (RAMs), erasableprogrammable read-only memories (EPROMs), electrically erasableprogrammable read-only memories (EEPROMs), magnetic or optical cards,flash memory, or other type of media/machine-readable medium suitablefor storing electronic instructions.

Several implementations are discussed below in more detail in referenceto the figures. FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an overview ofdevices on which at least some embodiments of the present technology canoperate. The devices can comprise hardware components of a device 500.Device 500 can include one or more input devices 520 that provide inputto the CPU (processor) 510, notifying it of actions. The actions aretypically mediated by a hardware controller that interprets the signalsreceived from the input device and communicates the information to theCPU 510 using a communication protocol. Input devices 520 include, forexample, a mouse, a keyboard, a touchscreen, an infrared sensor, atouchpad, a wearable input device, a camera- or image-based inputdevice, a microphone, or other user input devices.

CPU 510 can be a single processing unit or multiple processing units ina device or distributed across multiple devices. CPU 510 can be coupledto other hardware devices, for example, with the use of a bus, such as aPCI bus or SCSI bus. The CPU 510 can communicate with a hardwarecontroller for devices, such as for a display 530. Display 530 can beused to display text and graphics. In some examples, display 530provides graphical and textual visual feedback to a user. In someimplementations, display 530 includes the input device as part of thedisplay, such as when the input device is a touchscreen or is equippedwith an eye direction monitoring system. In some implementations, thedisplay is separate from the input device. Examples of display devicesare: televisions; mobile devices; an LCD display screen; an LED displayscreen; a projected, holographic, or augmented reality display (such asa heads-up display device or a head-mounted device); and so on. OtherI/O devices 540 can also be coupled to the processor, such as a networkcard, video card, audio card, USB, FireWire or other external device,camera, printer, speakers, CD-ROM drive, DVD drive, disk drive, orBlu-Ray device.

In some implementations, the device 500 also includes a communicationdevice capable of communicating wirelessly or wire-based with a networknode. The communication device can communicate with another device or aserver through a network using, for example, TCP/IP protocols. Device500 can utilize the communication device to distribute operations acrossmultiple network devices.

The CPU 510 can have access to a memory 550. A memory includes one ormore of various hardware devices for volatile and non-volatile storage,and can include both read-only and writable memory. For example, amemory can comprise random access memory (RAM), CPU registers, read-onlymemory (ROM), and writable non-volatile memory, such as flash memory,hard drives, floppy disks, CDs, DVDs, magnetic storage devices, tapedrives, device buffers, and so forth. A memory is not a propagatingsignal divorced from underlying hardware; a memory is thusnon-transitory. Memory 550 can include program memory 560 that storesprograms and software, such as an operating system 562, a multi-contentvideo signal application 564, and other application programs 566. Memory550 can also include data memory 570 that can include broadcast scheduleinformation, media content item libraries, media content itemselections, media content item downloads, etc., which can be provided tothe program memory 560 or any element of the device 500.

Some implementations can be operational with numerous other generalpurpose or special purpose computing system environments orconfigurations. Examples of well-known computing systems, environments,and/or configurations that may be suitable for use with the technologyinclude, but are not limited to, personal computers, server computers,handheld or laptop devices, cellular telephones, mobile phones, wearableelectronics, gaming consoles, tablet devices, multiprocessor systems,microprocessor-based systems, set-top boxes, programmable consumerelectronics, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers,distributed computing environments that include any of the above systemsor devices, or the like.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an overview of an environment 600in which at least some embodiment of the present technology can operate.Environment 600 can include one or more client computing devices 605A-E,examples of which can include device 500. Client computing devices605A-E can operate in a networked environment using logical connectionsthrough network 630 to one or more remote computers, such as a servercomputing device 610.

In some implementations, server computing device 610 can be an edgeserver that receives client requests and coordinates fulfillment ofthose requests through other servers, such as servers 620A-C. Servercomputing devices 610 and 620A-C can comprise computing systems, such asdevice 500. Though each server computing device 610 and 620A-C isdisplayed logically as a single server, server computing devices caneach be a distributed computing environment encompassing multiplecomputing devices located at the same or at geographically disparatephysical locations. In some implementations, each server computingdevice 620A-C corresponds to a group of servers.

Client computing devices 605A-E and server computing devices 610 and620A-C can each act as a server or client to other server/clientdevices. Server 610 can connect to a database 615. Servers 620A-C caneach connect to a corresponding database 625A-C. As discussed above,each server 620A-C can correspond to a group of servers, and each ofthese servers can share a database or can have their own database.Databases 615 and 625A-C can warehouse (e.g., store) information such asbroadcast schedule information, media content items, media content itemlibraries, media content item selections, user preferences, and thelike. Though databases 615 and 625A-C are displayed logically as singleunits, databases 615 and 625A-C can each be a distributed computingenvironment encompassing multiple computing devices, can be locatedwithin their corresponding server, or can be located at the same or atgeographically disparate physical locations.

Network 630 can be a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network(WAN), but can also be other wired or wireless networks. Network 630 maybe the Internet or some other public or private network. Clientcomputing devices 605A-E can be connected to network 630 through anetwork interface, such as by wired or wireless communication. While theconnections between server 610 and servers 620 are shown as separateconnections, these connections can be any kind of local, wide area,wired, or wireless network, including network 630 or a separate publicor private network.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating components 700 which can be usedin a system employing at least some embodiments of the presenttechnology. The components 700 include hardware 702, general software720, and specialized components 740. As discussed above, a systemimplementing the disclosed technology can use various hardware,including processing units 704 (e.g., CPUs, GPUs, APUs, etc.), workingmemory 706, storage memory 708, and input and output devices 710.Components 700 can be implemented in a client computing device such asclient computing devices 605A-E or on a server computing device, such asserver computing device 610 or 620A-C.

General software 720 can include various applications, including anoperating system 722, local programs 724, and a basic input outputsystem (BIOS) 726. Specialized components 740 can be subcomponents of ageneral software application 720, such as local programs 724.Specialized components 740 can include: a media content item selectionmodule 744, which can provide media content item options (steps 401 a,401 b) and/or receive media content item selections (steps 402 a, 402b); a multi-content video signal module 746, which can generate amulti-content video signal (Step 403) and/or cause the multi-contentvideo signal to be displayed (step 404); a sync signal module 748, whichcan transmit sync signals to a user's device (step 405); and/orcomponents that can be used for transferring data and controlling thespecialized components, such as interface 742. In some implementations,components 700 can be in a computing system that is distributed acrossmultiple computing devices or can be an interface to a server-basedapplication executing one or more of specialized components 740.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the components illustratedin FIGS. 5-7 described above, and in each of the flow diagrams discussedabove, may be altered in a variety of ways. For example, the order ofthe logic may be rearranged, sub steps may be performed in parallel,illustrated logic may be omitted, other logic may be included, etc. Insome implementations, one or more of the components described above canexecute one or more of the processes described below.

Remarks

The above description and drawings are illustrative and are not to beconstrued as limiting. Numerous specific details are described toprovide a thorough understanding of the disclosure. However, in someinstances, well-known details are not described in order to avoidobscuring the description. Further, various modifications may be madewithout deviating from the scope of the embodiments.

Reference in this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment”means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic describedin connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodimentof the disclosure. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” invarious places in the specification are not necessarily all referring tothe same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodimentsmutually exclusive of other embodiments. Moreover, various features aredescribed which may be exhibited by some embodiments and not by others.Similarly, various requirements are described which may be requirementsfor some embodiments but not for other embodiments.

The terms used in this specification generally have their ordinarymeanings in the art, within the context of the disclosure, and in thespecific context where each term is used. It will be appreciated thatthe same thing can be said in more than one way. Consequently,alternative language and synonyms may be used for any one or more of theterms discussed herein, and any special significance is not to be placedupon whether or not a term is elaborated or discussed herein. Synonymsfor some terms are provided. A recital of one or more synonyms does notexclude the use of other synonyms. The use of examples anywhere in thisspecification, including examples of any term discussed herein, isillustrative only and is not intended to further limit the scope andmeaning of the disclosure or of any exemplified term. Likewise, thedisclosure is not limited to various embodiments given in thisspecification. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientificterms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one ofordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains. In the caseof conflict, the present document, including definitions, will control.

1. A method for improved media content screen sharing, comprising:receiving a first media content item selection from a first user;receiving a second media content item selection from a second user;generating a multi-content video signal, wherein the multi-content videosignal includes the selected first media content item and the selectedsecond media content item; causing the multi-content video signal to bedisplayed, via a display device, to a first mobile phone of the firstuser and a second mobile phone of the second user; receiving from thedisplay device, the multi-content video signal at the first mobile phoneand the second mobile phone, causing the first mobile phone to (i)display a first portion of the multi-content video signal, correspondingto the selected first media content item and (ii) prevent display of asecond position of the multi-content video signal corresponding to theselected second media content item; and causing the second mobile phoneto (i) display the second portion of the multi-content video signalcorresponding to the selected second media content item and (ii) preventdisplay of the first portion of the multi-content video signal.
 2. Themethod of claim 1 wherein causing the first mobile phone to display thefirst portion of the multi-content video signal includes transmitting afirst sync signal to the first mobile phone, and wherein causing thesecond mobile phone to display the second portion of the multi-contentvideo signal includes transmitting a second sync signal to the secondmobile phone.
 3. The method of claim 2 wherein the first sync signal isassociated with a first frame rate of the selected first media contentitem, and wherein the second sync signal is associated with a secondframe rate of the selected second media content item.
 4. The method ofclaim 1 wherein the multi-content video signal includes a plurality offrames, wherein individual ones of the plurality of frames are from theselected first media content item or the selected second media contentitem, and wherein: causing the first mobile phone to display the firstportion of the multi-content video signal includes causing the firstmobile phone to selectively display one or more of the plurality offrames of the multi-content video signal from the selected first mediacontent item, and causing the second mobile phone to display the secondportion of the multi-content video signal includes causing the secondmobile phone to selectively display one or more of the plurality offrames of the multi-content video signal from the selected second mediacontent item.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein generating themulti-content video signal includes interleaving one or more firstframes of the selected first media content item with one or more secondframes from the selected second media content item.
 6. The method ofclaim 1 wherein: the multi-content video signal includes one or moreodd-numbered frames and one or more even-numbered frames, the selectedfirst media content item includes one or more first frames, the selectedsecond media content item includes one or more second frames, andgenerating the multi-content video signal includes combining theselected first media content item with the selected second media contentitem such that (i) individual ones of the one or more odd-numberedframes include individual ones of the one or more first frames, and (ii)individual ones of the one or more even-numbered frames includeindividual ones of the one or more second frames.
 7. The method of claim1 wherein the selected first media content item has a first frame rate,wherein the selected second media content item has a second frame rate,and wherein the multi-content video signal has a third frame rategreater than the first frame rate or the second frame rate.
 8. Themethod of claim 7 wherein the third frame rate is at least double thefirst frame rate or the second frame rate.
 9. A system for improvedmedia content screen sharing, the system comprising: a first mobilephone; a second mobile phone; a display device; and a set-top boxoperably coupled to the display device and configured to: receive afirst media content item selection from a first user; receive a secondmedia content item selection from a second user; generate amulti-content video signal, wherein the multi-content video signalincludes the selected first media content item and the selected secondmedia content item; cause the multi-content video signal to bedisplayed, via the display device, to the first mobile phone and thesecond mobile phone; cause the first mobile phone to (i) display a firstportion of the multi-content video signal to the first user, and (ii)prevent display of a second portion of the multi-content video signal tothe first user, wherein the first portion corresponds to the selectedfirst media content item and the second portion corresponds t theselected second media content item; and cause the second mobile phone to(i) display the second portion of the multi-content video signal to thesecond user and (ii) prevent display of the first portion of themulti-content video signal to the second user.
 10. The system of claim 9wherein the set-top box is further configured to (i) transmit a firstsync signal to the first mobile phone to cause the first mobile phone todisplay the first portion of the multi-content video signal, and (ii)transmit a second sync signal to the second mobile phone to cause thesecond mobile phone to display the second portion of the multi-contentvideo signal.
 11. The system of claim 10 wherein the first sync signalis associated with a first frame rate of the selected first mediacontent item, and wherein the second sync signal is associated with asecond frame rate of the selected second media content item.
 12. Thesystem of claim 9 wherein the first media content item has a first framerate, wherein the second media content item has a second frame rate, andwherein the multi-content video signal has a third frame rate greaterthan the first frame rate or the second frame rate.
 13. The system ofclaim 9 wherein generating the multi-content video signal includesinterleaving one or more first frames from the selected first mediacontent item with one or more second frames from the selected secondmedia content item.
 14. The system of claim 9 wherein the first portionof the multi-content video signal includes one or more first frames fromthe first media content item, wherein the second portion of themulti-content video signal includes one or more second frames from thesecond media content item, and wherein the set-top box is configured to:cause the first mobile phone to selectively display one or more of thefirst frames; and cause the second mobile phone to selectively displayone or more of the second of frames.
 15. One or more non-transitorycomputer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that,when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or moreprocessors to perform operations comprising: receiving a first mediacontent item selection from a first user; receiving a second mediacontent item selection from a second user; generating a multi-contentvideo signal, wherein the multi-content video signal includes theselected first media content item and the selected second media contentitem; causing the multi-content video signal to be displayed, via adisplay device, to a first mobile phone of the first user and a secondmobile phone of the second user; causing the first mobile phone to (i)display a first portion of the multi-content video signal and (ii)prevents display of a second portion of the multi-content video signal,wherein the first portion corresponds to the selected first mediacontent item and the second portion corresponds to the selected secondmedia content item; and causing the second mobile phone to (i) displaythe second portion of the multi-content video signal and (ii) preventdisplay of the first portion of the multi-content video signal.
 16. Theone or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15 whereincausing the first mobile phone to display the first portion of themulti-content video signal includes transmitting a first sync signal tothe first mobile phone, and wherein causing the second mobile phone todisplay the second portion of the multi-content video signal includestransmitting a second sync signal to the second mobile phone.
 17. Theone or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 16 whereinthe first sync signal is associated with a first frame rate of theselected first media content item, and wherein the second sync signal isassociated with a second frame rate of the selected second media contentitem.
 18. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media ofclaim 15 wherein the first media content item has a first frame rate,wherein the second media content item has a second frame rate, andwherein the multi-content video signal has a third frame rate that is atleast double the first frame rate or the second frame rate.
 19. The oneor more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15 whereingenerating the multi-content video signal includes interleaving one ormore first frames of the selected first media content item with one ormore second frames from the selected second media content item.
 20. Theone or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15 wherein:the multi-content video signal includes one or more odd-numbered framesand one or more even-numbered frames, the selected first media contentitem includes one or more first frames, the selected second mediacontent item includes one or more second frames, and generating themulti-content video signal includes combining the selected first mediacontent item with the selected second media content item such that (i)individual ones of the one or more odd-numbered frames includeindividual ones of the one or more first frames, and (ii) individualones of the one or more even-numbered frames include individual ones ofthe one or more second frames.